Cool Spaces captures the series premiere of the Cool Spaces show, public television’s first program to explore the most provocative and bold American architecture of the last decade. The book highlights the first twelve buildings of the series for a fascinating glimpse into the mysteries and realities of architecture. Readers will learn how architects create their designs, why buildings look the way they do, and what it really takes to bring a building to reality. Concept sketches, renderings, and on set photos from production shoots illuminate the stories behind the buildings, which include the Ruvo Center in Las Vegas by Frank Gehry, the Seattle Public Library in Seattle by OMA/REX, and Barclays Center in Brooklyn by SHoP Architects. A narrative and visual journey through the show’s production and content, Cool Spaces presents a new and accessible understanding of architecture.

Stephen Chung, AIA, is a Boston-based architect. In addition to practice, Stephen has taught design and drawing at several institutions, including Syracuse, Cornell, RISD, and Yale University. Over the past several years, Stephen has focused on bridging the gap between the architectural profession and the general public. To this end, Stephen is the Host for a television series on public television entitled “Cool Spaces: The Best New Architecture.”

Sun Joo Kim is a designer and writer based in Boston. Sun Joo received her Bachelor of Architecture, with a double major in Social History, from Carnegie Mellon University and has worked in the office of Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. Her architectural work includes the design and planning of civic, university, residential, and hospitality projects across the United States. Sun Joo’s articles on design, architecture, and business have appeared in online publications.